Preparation and magnetic properties of RFeO3 nanocrystalline powders

The rare-earth orthoferrites RFeO3 (R, rare-earth element) crystallize in an orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure. RFeO3 compounds exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties because of their ionic and electronic defects. Polycrystalline nano-sized RFeO3 powders were synthesized by the sol-gel combustion method. X-ray powder diffraction indicated that nanocrystalline powders were single ReFeO3 phase, which are agglomerated with average crystallite size of 60-90 nm estimated with the Scherrer's equation. Magnetic measurements were carried out using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. The influence on hysteresis curve of electronic structure of rare-earth element was investigated for R = Y, La and Nd. Varied magnetic behaviors were observed in these compounds, which are believed to be associated with the different interactions of Fe and rare earths.